Acetylene generator



Nov. 27 1923.

W. B. MILLER ACETYLENE GENERATOR Fild Feb. 4, 1921 Beaumont, in the county of Fatented Nov. 27, 1923 UNITED sra'rss WALLACE B. MILLER, OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

ACETYLENE GENERATOR.

Application filed February 4, 1921. Serial No. 442,509.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, /VALLAcn B. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jefferson, and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Acetylene Genera-tor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an acetylene generator shown disconnected from the safety valve.

One object of the invention is to provide a generator of the characted described whereby the delivery of the carbide, from the carbide receptacle to the generating tank, is automatically controlled.

Another object is to provide a controlling valv which controls the delivery of carbide, and which will close the carbide receptacle, and prevent the waste of carbide, when it is desired to remove said receptacle from the generating tank.

A still further feature resides in the pro vision of a safety valve, automatically controlled by gas pressure, which prevents the gas in the tank from becoming ignited in case of back-fire from the torch, and regulates the delivery of said gas.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to cer tain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the device. I

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the carbide receptacle, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View of a safety device employed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1 designates the generating tank, which has the water inlet 2, the drain outlet 3, the sludge stirrer 4 and the pressure gauge 5. Bolted upon the top of the tank, so as to be removable, there is a carbide receptacle 6, whose lower end is reduced to uform the hopper-like neck 7. This neck is partially closed by the web 8 which has a central discharge opening 9. Spaced below this web there is a discharge hopper 10 having the central discharge opening 20, through which opening 11. web and hopper and controlsthe opening 9. Fixed to the valve there is a stem 13 which extends up through the receptacle 6, and depending from the top of the chamber there is a tubular sleeve 14: which surrounds the stem' to prevent the carbide from coming in contact with and corroding the stem. A sleeve 15 stands up from the top of the receptacle, through which the stem works. There is a regulator carried by the sleeve 15, which consists of the casing 16 whose top has perforations l7 and spanning this casing there is a flexible diaphragm, 18, to which the valve stem is clamped. The casing is )erforated above the diaphragm to permit the escape of any gas that may collect above the diaphragm. Surrounding the valve stem within the sleeve 15, and interposed between the diaphragm 18 and the top of the receptacle, and bearing against said oiaphragm there is a low-tension spring 19 which will lift the valve 12 to close the opening 9 and prevent the waste of carbide when the receptacle-is removed from the tank. The receptacle has a suitable inlet it may be filled with carbide. A tube 21 leads up from the tank and discharges into the receptacle '6, through which a portion of the generated gas passes into said receptacle, said gas then passing through the ports 22 and through the sleeve 15 against the diaphragm 18.

A gas line 23 leads from the generating tank and passes downwardly into the purifier 24 and its lower end is submerged in the water therein. An outlet line 25 leads from the purifier and is controlled by the shut-oil valve 26. The free end of this out lot line supports a safety device which includes the casing 27, having the flexible diaphragm 28. The casing has perforations above the diaphragm to permit the escape of gas which may collect above said diaphragm. The free end of the outlet line is downwardly turned and formed into a seat 29, which is enclosed within the casing and a valve 30 cooperates with a seat to, at times, close the outlet line. This valve has a stem 31 which is clamped to the diaphragm 28 and whose upper end works freely through the gland 32 which is threaded into the top of the casing 27. Surrounding the stem 31 and interposed between the gland 32 and the diaphragm 28, is a coil spring 33, whose tension may be A valve l2works between this I regulated through said nut. A service line 34 leads from the casing 27 below the diaphragm 28.

In operation the valve 12 is normally held open by means of the high tension spring 35. One end of this spring is attached to the gas line 23 and the other end thereof is attached to the free end otthe lever 36 which is tulcrumed to the standard 37 and to which the stem 13 is secured.

The carbide which falls into the water in the tank 1 will generate gas, the main portion of which will pass out through the gas line 23 and thence through the outlet line 25 and the service line 34 to the torch. A portion of the gas finds its way, as explained, up against the diaphragm 18 and when the pressure becomes too great, this pressure will operate against said diaphragm with sufiicient force to cause the valve 12 to close the opening 9' and shut oil the supply of carbide until the pressure is reduced.

In case the diaphragm 18 should burst the spring will immediately operate through the rod 13, to seat the valve 12 in hopper 10 and this valve will close the discharge opening 11 and shut off the supply of carbide, thus acting as a safety valve to prevent an explosion.

In case of back-fire from the torch the pressure exerted against the diaphragm 28 will operate to instantly seat the vale 30 and this will efiectually prevent the ignition of the gas in the tank 1.

The safety device also acts as a reducing valve. When a given pressure is reached the diaphragm 28 operates to close the valve 30 and when the pressure decreases the spring 33 will open said valve. An even pressure is thus obtained on the torch, and this reducing valve is very desirable inasmuch as the gas pressure in the tank varies.

The gas tank is provided with a safety valve 38 of any conventional construction which will relieve the pressure therein should it become too high and thus prevent the bursting of the tank from said pressure.

What I claim is In a gas generator, a generating tank, a removable carbide receptacle-secured to the top of said tank and wiose lower end is reduced to form a hopper like neck, a. trans verse web in said neck having a central discharge opening, a valve beneath the web provided to control said opening, a stem fixed to said valve which extends up through said receptacle, a sleeve upstanding om the top of the receptacle through which the stem works, a regulator carried by the sleeve and formed with a casing, a flexible diaphragm spanning said casing to which the stem is attached, a spring surrounding said stem and interposed between the diaphragm and the top of said receptacle, said spring tending to seat said valve in the opening of said web to close the same, a lever tulerumed at one end to the casing and connected to said stem, a spring connecting to the other end of said lever with a fixed anchor and tending to unseat said valve.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALLACE B. MILLER. Witnesses:

R, W. MILLER, CHAs. BRYANT. 

